NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 7
"Gu Yan Sheng's fiancee was as beautiful as a flower, he'd have to keep a close eye on her," An Nuan's expression changed slightly.
This vixen, she really had no fear of making a scene.
Gu Yan Sheng watched Ye Jinghuai's back as he walked away, an expression of disdain on his face, "A wastrel."
An Nuan pursed her lips.
Fortunately Gu Yan Sheng was too arrogant, he likely never considered that An Nuan would interact with the likes of Ye Jinghuai.
However, An Nuan's lips curved into a cold smile, this so-called "wastrel" was someone Gu Yan Sheng couldn't deal with no matter what underhanded methods he tried!
"Let's go," An Nuan looped her arm through Gu Yan Sheng's and walked into the banquet hall.
Returning to the hall this time, An Nuan was clearly much more proactive.
She politely greeted and chatted with the coming and going crowds, sipping drinks lightly. She performed all the etiquette of high society perfectly.
Gu Yan Sheng was still somewhat surprised by An Nuan's change. He couldn't help asking, "Nuan Nuan, I really feel you've changed a lot. You used to be the worst at conversing with strangers, yet now you're smoothly in your element."
It was only that she didn't want to before, not that she couldn't.
She gave a charming smile, "Seeing how outstanding you are, I should strive harder too."
This sentence was clearly meant to compliment Gu Yan Sheng.
Gu Yan Sheng's mood lifted at once, "Silly girl, I'm this outstanding for the sake of letting you live better too, right?"
An Nuan laughed softly without responding.
"What's more, seeing you socialize tires me out."
"I'll pace myself," An Nuan truly detested his false courtesy.
Fortunately at this moment, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed.
The theme of tonight's event, the charity auction, was about to officially begin.
A man walked to the center of the stage, a spotlight shining down on him.
"Hello everyone! It is my greatest honor that all you esteemed guests have come to attend our Yuecheng annual charity banquet. On behalf of Yuecheng's charity organizations, I thank you for your presence..." After some pretentious opening remarks, everyone's gaze turned towards the stage.
With the opening done, the host didn't delay and began introducing and auctioning off each of tonight's charity items.
There were soft murmurs below the stage.
Gu Yan Sheng also took the initiative to ask An Nuan, "See anything you like? I'll get it for you as a wedding gift."
An Nuan's gaze flickered.
She remembered that when the charity auction had started that year, Gu Yan Sheng had called to ask if she liked anything. She said no, then Gu Yan Sheng bought one of the auctioned charity items and gifted it to Xu Zixi. Xu Zixi then "accidentally" exposed this publicly, causing quite a stir in Yuecheng. An Nuan had even explained on her own Weibo at the time on Gu Yan Sheng's behalf.
Recalling it now, it left a bad taste in her mouth.
She said, "I heard that tonight's finale auction piece, the sapphire from Queen Diana's crown in the 80s, I saw the photos and thought it was beautiful."
"Alright." Gu Yan Sheng agreed readily.
In fact he was also somewhat surprised. An Nuan had never liked these kinds of things before, and was always frugal for his sake. He had planned to agree to bid on a bracelet for Xu Zixi tonight, and clearly didn't have the budget for this now.
An Nuan deliberately didn't notice Gu Yan Sheng's thoughts, and kept her attention entirely on the stage.
Finally, it was time for the last auction item.
The host introduced it effusively, then banged his gavel. "The sapphire, opening bid 5 million, increment of 100,000! Let's start!"
Many people in the banquet hall started shouting out bids.
"6 million!"
"6.5 million!"
"6.8 million!"
"10 million!" A familiar male voice suddenly called out from the darkness.
It wasn't Gu Yan Sheng.
Gu Yan Sheng was just about to raise his hand and was stunned for a second by the sudden price.
Everyone present was astonished by the sudden sky-high price.
Their gazes couldn't help but turn towards Ye Jinghuai.
At this moment, Xi Qi Qi was also standing with An Nuan. She couldn't help saying, "This Ye Jinghuai still makes such extravagant bids!"
"Isn't it just relying on his family's money, incapable of real accomplishments but adept at causing trouble!" Gu Yan Sheng said derisively, also raising his hand in that moment, "11 million!"
His proud dignity naturally didn't want to be outdone.
"15 million!" Ye Jinghuai called out an astronomical bid.
Gu Yan Sheng's expression was clearly very ugly.
"16 million!" Gu Yan Sheng raised the bid.
"20 million!" Yet another raised price.
It clearly made Gu Yan Sheng seem especially petty.
And Gu Yan Sheng's budget for tonight was only 10 million, at most no more than 15 million.
At this moment...
His expression was extremely ugly.
At this moment many people even turned their gazes towards him.
Their expressions were clearly gloating at the spectacle.
Outsiders didn't know.
In fact the Gu Corporation's funds had been in dire straits recently. Coming to the charity auction tonight was originally meant to prove the Gu Corporation was fine currently, and cover up the internal rumors, in order to obtain bank loans and investments from other companies. 10 million or so they could still put up, but taking out 20 million or more at once was clearly beyond their means.
Gu Yan Sheng endured it, even trembling from anger.
Never in his life had he been so humiliated.
"20 million going once!" The host called out loudly when no one else bid, as a reminder.
Ye Jinghuai didn't even glance at Gu Yan Sheng, just maintained a nonchalant expression.
Making Gu Yan Sheng feel Ye Jinghuai simply didn't take him seriously at all.
"20 million going twice!" The host called out again.
"20 million going thr..."
"25 million!" An Nuan suddenly spoke up.
The clear female voice made the banquet hall break out in surprised exclamations.
Gu Yan Sheng also didn't expect An Nuan to suddenly bid.
He couldn't help muttering in a low voice, "It's obvious Ye Jinghuai is deliberately driving up the price, don't fall for his ploy."
An Nuan acted as if she didn't hear him.
Just as Ye Jinghuai called out "30 million" and An Nuan was about to follow up,
Gu Yan Sheng directly pulled An Nuan's hand down in front of everyone.
All present saw it happen before their eyes.
An Nuan looked at him as well.
Gu Yan Sheng had indeed acted rashly in that moment, because he simply couldn't afford that price.
Facing everyone's gaze, he gave An Nuan no explanation at all.
He felt that no matter how he treated her, she would forgive him, so he didn't need to consider her feelings.
He said, "Since Young Master Ye likes it so much, a gentleman does not snatch what someone else favors, we'll concede it to you."
"I heard..." Ye Jinghuai didn't appreciate it at all, and directly exposed the truth, "This was supposed to be Young Master Gu's wedding gift for Miss An, are you certain you don't want it?"
Gu Yan Sheng's expression was extremely ugly.
So he knew, yet still deliberately provoked him, clearly not giving him any face at all.
Ye Jinghuai faintly smiled, his light yet magnetic voice continued, "It's said Young Master Gu loves Miss An deeply, I thought raising the price a bit would let Young Master Gu express his feelings better. It appears I was too presumptuous."
"Love shouldn't be measured by money," Gu Yan Sheng stated righteously.
Ye Jinghuai smiled again. He said, "Young Master Gu's words are right indeed. So Young Master Gu has decided against it?"
"We'll concede it." Gu Yan Sheng maintained a polite demeanor.
At that moment it seemed Ye Jinghuai's gaze turned towards An Nuan.
An Nuan still felt this man Ye Jinghuai's gaze...clearly indifferent at a glance, yet also, fatally mesmerizing.